Method of starting gas or vapor electric devices.



PATENTED JULY 19, 1904.

vs. E. FLIOHTNER. METHOD OF STARTING GAS 0R VAPOR ELECTRIC DEVICES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

NO MODEL.

Wiin asses:

. PATENTED JULY 19, 1904. S. E. PLIGHTNEB. METHOD OF STARTING GAS 0R VAPOR ELECTRIC DEVICES.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 1903.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

No. 765,465 PATENTED JULY'19,1904,-

' s. EFFLIGHTNER.

METHOD OF STARTING GAS OR VAPOR ELECTRIC DEVICES; I

APPLICATION PILEDAU'G. 10,-1903.

N0 MODEL.

a SHEETS-SHEET a.

UNITED STATES I'Patented July 19, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

STANWVOODE. FLICHTNER, ENGLEVVOOD, NEWV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO COOPER HEWVITT ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METHOD OF STARTING GAS OR VAPOR ELECTRIC DEVICES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 765,465, dated July 19, 1904.

Application filed August 10, 1903. Serial No. 168,981. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STANWOOD E. FLIGHT- NER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Englewood, county of Bergen, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Starting Gas or Vapor Electric Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The invention forming the subject of this application relates to a method of starting gas or vapor electric apparatus in which electrodes of mercury or other liquid conducting'material are located one above the other in the normal operation of the apparatus. It has been customary test-art devices of this character into operation by impressing upon the terminals of the apparatus or through a startingband or other equivalent a higher potential than that on which the apparatus is designed for operation after which the source of high potential has been removed from the circuit and the device has been operated on a certain lower normal potential. I have devised means whereby the use of a source ofhigher potential may be dispensed with and the apparatus can be started with the normal operating-eurrent applied to its terminals. The mode in which this is accomplished may be briefly described as consisting in tilting the apparatus so that a portion of the mercury or other liquid conductor residing in the receptacle containing the lower electrode will be spilled into the receptacle for the upper electrode and the excess will then be restored to the lowerelectrode receptacle in a stream while the current is applied to the terminals. It is found that when this is done the stream of falling liquid will constitute a good conductor between the terminals and that when the liquid, acting under the influence of gravity, begins to form itself into spray near the bottom of the falling stream the current will pass from the mercury surrounding the lower terminal of the apparatus to the end of the solid portion of the stream and as the latter turns into.

spray will follow up the solid part of the stream until all the liquid which it is designed to spill over has passed out of the upper receptacle, whereupon current will flow from the lower electrode to the upper, it being understood that suflieient mercury or other conducting liquid is retained in the upper receptacle to constitute an electrode for the apparatus.

Considering the particular embodiment which belongs to an apparatus designed for carrying out the above-described method, it may assume various forms; but, among other things, it will generally be provided with means whereby the apparatus can be tipped or tilted, so as to cause some of the liquid from the normal lower-electrode receptacle to flow into the upper, and can then be restored,

SO as 130 cause a COIllilIlUOUS stream Of conducting liquid from the normal upper-electrode receptacle to the lower. I generally support the apparatus in a frame and provide means whereby the frame can be tilted and also provide a stop for limiting the movement of the frame. I may also provide cushions or other equivalent for preventing shock during the tilting movement or at its termination.

It is often convenient to start two or more gas or vapor electric devices of the character described by the same operation, the devices being arranged in series with each other. I may, however, start the devices singly, as will be fully described hereinafter.

I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a side elevation of two gas or vapor electric devices mounted in a tilting frame. Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views, and Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, ll, 12, and 13 illustrate modified forms of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a supporting-base having uprights or standards 2 2.

3. The gas or vapor devices appear at? 7 as being mounted on cross-pieces 8 9 by means of suitable clips 1O 1O 10. The cross-pieces 8 and 9 extend across the frame 3 and are supported thereon.

I may provide a mirror or reflector 11 to assist in throwing the light forward, and I may also provide protecting-netting 12 12 for the upper parts 13 13 of the gas or vapor devices. The said parts 13 13 are usually made in the form of enlargements of the glass containers 14 14, and constitute condensing-chambers for the vapors inside the apparatus.

Each of the devices 7 7 isprovided with a receptacle 15 at the bottom and with a receptacle 16 near the top, somewhat below the condensing-chamber 13. Lead-wires 17 and 18 connect, respectively, with the electrodes in the receptacles 15 and 16.

The receptacles 16 have a capacity greater than is necessary for holding sufficient mercury or other conducting liquid to constitute the upper electrodes.

The first operation consists in tilting the vapor apparatus by means of the crank-handle 6, so that the frame will occupy the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. By this operation a part of the mercury in the receptacle 15 is poured into the receptacle 16, thereby filling the latter receptacle with an excess of mercury. The next operation consists in turning the frame 3 back to its normal posi tion, as indicated in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2, during which operation the mercury is poured in a stream from the upper to the lower electrode, thereby constituting a complete metallic conducting-circuit within the apparatus.

The external or supply circuit is illustrated at 19 20 and is provided with a controllingswitch 21 for opening and closing the same. The wire 19 is connected, as shown, through the walls of the frame 3 near one of its pivots with the leading-inwire 17 of one of the vapor devices, the opposite electrode of the same device being connected by awire 22, conducting-pieces 23, and a wire 24, with the leadingin wire 17 of the next vapor device in the series. From the opposite electrode of this second vapor device a wire 25 leads through the wall of the frame 3 to a rheostat or induct- -ive device 26 and thence by a wire 27 to the conductor 20. The circuits being run as described, when the tilting motions mentioned above are accomplished the streams of falling mercury or other conducting liquid in the gas or vapor devices 7 7 will practically close a continuous conducting-circuit from one of the main wires 19 20 to the other.

In practice it is found that the streams-say of mercuryare formed into spray near the bottom and that the current passes from the electrodes in the lower receptacles 15 15 through the spray to the ends of the solid portions of the streams, creeping gradually upward as the spray spreads in the other direction until a continuous flow of current takes place,

no longer through the liquid stream, but through the vapor inside the apparatus. If the devices are arranged to give light, itwill be found that the vapor-path between the electrodes of the several gas or vapor devices is strongly illuminated.

I may pass one of the conductors leading to or from the terminals of the apparatus through a pair of springs 28 29, secured to the movable frame 3 and provided with a bent portion 30, adapted to engage with an insulatingstop 31 on one of the standard supports or uprights 2 2. The object of this arrangement is to provide against a turning back of the tilting frame for a second operation while the current is still flowing through the apparatus, which might result in emptying one or both of the electrode receptacles and causing a burning away of the platinum leading-in wires at that point. By means of the spring locking device described above when the tilting frame is returned to its upright position and the apparatus is in operation the bent piece 30 will spring over the stop 31, so that the frame cannot again be tilted without forcing the springs to separate by reasonof the fact that the stop 31 must pass between them in order to allow the tilting. This operation serves to separate the springs, and thereby stop the flow of current through the apparatus. The frame can then be tilted for a second operation without danger to the leading-in devices.

I find it convenient sometimes to mount the base 1 and the parts which it supports upon a stem 32, which is adjustable in a hollow base 33, a thumb-screw 34 being used to regulate the adjustment.

Fig. 5 shows a gas or vapor electrical device 7, mounted underneath a rod or bar 35, which is pivoted to a standard 36 on a base 37. The rod or bar is connected with a piston-rod 38, connected with a plunger 39 in a cylinder 40, the last named piece constituting a dash-pot connected with the rod or bar 35 for preventing too rapid a movement thereof on its pivot. Aspring 41 may be provided for assisting in the regulation of the movement of the rod or bar 35. At its upper end the said rod is connected to a band 42, surrounding the neck of the gas or vapor device and provided with an extension 43, to which a cord 44 is attached. The action will be clearly understood when it is said that the cord 44 is designed to serve as a means for pulling down the gas or vapor electric apparatus and filling the electrode receptacle 16, after which the starting of the apparatus takes place automatically through its being restored by means of the spring 41 to the position illustrated.

Fig. 6 shows devices whereby two lamps 77, connected in series, can be tilted by means of a cord 44, running over a pulley 45. This cord is provided with a counter-weight 46,

which, however, is not heavy enough to retain the devices after theirinner ends have been drawn up by the cord, but allows them to sink slowly, and thereby be properly started into operation.

Fig. 7 illustrates automatic means for starting apparatusof this sort. Here one end of the gas or vapor electrical device 7 is supported by a cord and the other by a cord 52, the weighted arm 51 being provided above the gas or vapor device. To the cord 52 I attach conical pieces 53 53, which are adapted to be grasped by clutches or tongs 54 54:, carried by a cord 55, running over a pulley 56. The cord 52 runs over another pulley, 58, and carries at its lower end a counterweight 59. To operate this apparatus, it is necessary to pull down on the cord 55, lifting the cord 52 and one end of the gas or vapor device 7. The lifting ceases, however, and the gas or vapor apparatus is allowed to fall by gravity, when the upper ends of the clutches or tongs 54 are drawn into conical guides on the support 61 for the pulley 58. The clutches or tongs are thereby opened and release the conical piece 53, with which they have been in engagement, and thereby permit the gas or vapor apparatus to fall as described. Stops 100 and 101, secured, respectively, to the cords 55 and 52, prevent the apparatus from being carried too far. The uncovering of the lower leading-in wire may be prevented by other,

means than those already described. For

example, as shown in Fig. 8, the lowerelec-- trode receptacle 15 may be extended in such a way as to insure that some of the mercury or other liquid will always remain in the receptacle even when the frame 3 is tilted to its extreme position.

In Fig. 9 I illustrate other means for causing the automatic restoration of the gas or vapor apparatus. Here the tube 7 is supported upon a rod or bar 70, which is provided at its lower end with a counterweight 71, adapted to restore the apparatus after it has beentilte'd. The tilting operation takes place through the cord 72, extending over a pulley 7 3 and provided with an operating ring or handle 74. The cord 72 also passes over a pulley 75 and is attached to a lug 76 on the said pulley. The pulley 75 is mounted on a shaft 77, which is itself journaled in .a bracket 78, from which depends a supportingarm 79. The arm or rod 70 is pivoted at 80 to the said supporting-arm. On the same shaft 77 is mounted a second pulley 81, over which extends a cord 82, which is connected to the rod or arm 7 O at the eyepiece 83. To

the opposite end of the cord 82 is connected a weight 84:, adapted to serve as a counterweight with respect to the weight 71, as already described, and to prevent a sudden dropping of the gas or vapor apparatus when it is released, as will be described farther on. I also provide springs 85 and 86, which I attach to: the rod or arm 70 and bear against opposite sides of the supporting-arm 79 to assist in preventing any sudden dropping of the apparatus. The pulley 75 is flexibly secured to the shaft 77 by means of aspring 87, one end of which is connected with the shaft and the other with the pulley. On the inner side of this pulley I mount a pivoted catch 88 and provide a spring 89, which tends to urge the catch 'into cooperation with the pin 90 on the inner side of the pulley81. To the shaft, between the pulleys, I secure, by means of the pin 91, a cam 92, which is adapted to rotate with the shaft. The pulley 81 is loosely mounted on the shaft and its movements of. rotation are controlled by the devices now being described and by the force of the counterweight84 and the parts cooperating therewith.

In order to tilt the apparatus into the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 9, it is necessary to pull down on the operatingring 74, thereby rotating the pulley 75 and carrying the pulley 81 along with it by reason of the engagement of the catch 88 with the pin 90 on the latter pulley.

It should be understood'that the cord 82 is attached to a lug on the pulley 81, so that when the said pulley is'rotated the cord is positively pulled along and the gas or vapor apparatus is lifted or tilted, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9. This operation continues until the cam 92 is brought into engagement with the end of the catch-lever 88, thereby lifting the latter off the pin 90 and releasing the pulley 81. Thereupon the latter falls into the power of the opposing forces constituted mainly by the Weight 71 and the counterweight 84:. The gas or vapor apparatus accordingly begins to sink into its normal position, as illustrated by full lines in Fig. 9, and duringthis process a stream of mercury passes from the receptacle 16 to the receptacle 15, with the results already describedthat is to say, the apparatus is started into operation,the circuit being first established through a solid stream of mercury and subsequently being established through the vapor as the mercury breaks up at the lower end of the stream or elsewhere in its course.

It will be understood that during the pulling up of the apparatus into the dotted position shown in Fig. 9 some of the mercury from the receptacle 15 will have passed over into the receptacle 16, thereby creating an excess of conducting liquid in the latter receptacle.

It will be understood that the vapor devices described in this specification may be started by any of the means or methods herein de scribed and may afterward be removed from the tilting frame or other appliances whereby the starting is accomplished and supported in any suitable. way or in any preferred location. It will also be understood that instead of starting a number of these devices in series single devices may be started by similar means or methods.

It is found that when the restoration of the vapor device takes place slowly, as illustrated in some of the later figures of the drawings, the breaking up of the mercury is likely to begin at the top of the stream or even at some intermediate portion thereof. Accordingly it is not desired to limit the action of the apparatus to a breaking up of the stream at its lower end; but it will be understood that the interruption of the stream at any point is adequate to serve as a means for starting the apparatus into operation. It is to be noted in this connection that one of the essential features of the present invention consists in causing a closing and opening of the circuit through the apparatus by a single mechanical operation. In this respect the action differs from that of the somewhat similar devices in which one operation is made use of to closea circuit through the device while a reverse operation ruptures the circuit through the conducting liquid and establishes the circuit through the gas or vapor.

In a divisional application filed by me September 19, 190$,Serial No. 173,787, claims are made upon the apparatus described herein.

I claim as my invention 1. The method of starting a gas or vapor electric apparatus containing separated electrodes of conducting liquid, which consists in temporarily storing an excess of the liquid at or near one of the electrodes, then causing such excess to flow in a descending stream from that electrode to the other, and interrupting the said stream while still descending to establish an initial or starting current.

2. The method of starting a gas or vapor electric apparatus containing separated electrodes of conducting liquid, which consists in tipping the apparatus so as to temporarily store an excess of the liquid at or near one of the electrodes then causing such excess to flow in a stream from that electrode to the other and by gravity interrupting the said stream while still descending to establish an initial or starting flow of current through a portion of the vapor.

3. The method of starting a gas or vapor electric apparatus containing separated electrodes of mercury, which consists in tipping the apparatus so as to temporarily store an excess of mercury at or near one electrode, then restoring the apparatus to its initial position thereby establishing a stream of mercury from that electrode to the other, by gravity interrupting said stream while still descending to establish an initial or starting flow of current through a portion of the vapor, and afterward extending the flow of current through the entire vapor-column between the electrodes.

4:. The method of starting a gas or vapor electric apparatus containing separated electrodes of conducting liquid, one of which electrodes is located above the other, which consists in creating a stream of mercury from the upper to the lower electrode, thereby establishing a continuous conducting-path from one electrode to the other, subjecting the said stream to the action of gravity whereby the lower part of the conducting-stream is turned into spray, and an initial flow of current through a vapor-path is established, maintaining the application of electrical energy to the electrodes whereby the flow of current initially established through the vapor passes from the lower electrode to the upper electrode through the gradual shortening column at the upper end of the stream.

5. The method of starting and operating a gas or vapor electric apparatus containing separated electrodes of conducting liquid, one of which electrodes is located above the other, which consists in applying to the electrodes the normal operating-potential, tipping the apparatus so as to supply an excess of conducting liquid to the upper electrode, restoring the apparatus and thereby establishing a stream of conducting liquid through the apparatus, and permitting the stream to gradually dissipate itself under the influence of gravity, whereby a flow of current first takes place through the stream of conducting liquid and is afterward transferred to the Vapor between the electrodes.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 6th day of August, A. D. 1903.

STANVVOOD E. FLIGHTNER.

Witnesses:

WVM. H. CAPEL, GEORGE H. STooKBRIDcn. 

